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Friends of the Earth releases new ad: San Onofre 'a disaster waiting to happen'

Posted May. 18, 2012 / Posted by: Becca Connors

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Friends of the Earth released a new video ad warning that restarting the crippled San Onofre nuclear power plant is "a disaster waiting to happen."

The 30-second online ad blasts Southern California Edison's announced plan to restart San Onofre's twin reactors as early as next month. The reactors have been shut down since a release of radioactive steam in January, but Edison insists they can be safely operated by plugging some of the faulty steam tubes and operating at reduced power -- even though the exact cause of the leaks is still unknown.

The ad urges concerned citizens to contact Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer. Sen. Boxer, chair of the Senate Environment and Public Works committee, wrote to Edison and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission on May 15, asking for documents relating to Edison's decision to replace the plant's steam generators with a different design and the NRC's review of that decision. The senator has given the NRC and Edison until May 21 to provide documentation.

"Edison has yet to provide any technical information about what went wrong at San Onofre, but they're recklessly pushing to start the plant up again," said Damon Moglen, climate and energy campaign director at Friends of the Earth. "It's an irresponsible gamble that could endanger the millions of people who live near the nuclear plant. We can't let that happen."

Friends of the Earth fights to defend the environment and create a more healthy and just world. Our current campaigns focus on promoting clean energy and solutions to climate change, keeping toxic and risky technologies out of the food we eat and products we use, and protecting marine ecosystems and the people who live and work near them.